Modular vehicle HMI

A modular programmable widget system, comprising:

• a dock comprising a plurality of dock connectors each of identical shape and arranged in a linear array;
• and
• a plurality of modular programmable widgets, each modular programmable widget having a front housing and a back housing defining an enclosure, one or more physical controls provided on a front face of the enclosure, a contact pad exposed by the enclosure for electrical connection to any one of the dock connectors, and one or more features for mechanical connection and securing of the modular programmable widget to the dock,
• wherein the dock defines a protrusion to align the modular programmable widget for insertion into the dock,
• wherein the back housing defines an attachment body extending rearward from a vertical surface of a rear wall of the back housing, and the dock includes a securing channel sized to conform with a profile of the attachment body, such that pivoting the modular programmable widget around the protrusion causes the attachment body of the modular programmable widget to move into the securing channel.